(breathlessly getting into the car after a rather trying trip to the grocery store with me and his sister, addressing her from the backseat) OK. Stop talking and listen to me. (holding up a dollar bill) I will give you a DOLLAR if you can be QUIET for 1 whole minute. No talking, no sounds, no nothing. Starting . . . (intently looking at the clock) . . . NOW!
Her, responding enthusiastically, big smile on her face: Wow! That's going to be hard to do! I don't know if I can BE quiet for a whole minute. That's like 60 whole seconds, but I guess it's worth a dollar, that's more than a penny a second . . .
Him, deadpan expression on his face, putting the dollar back in his pocket and catching my eye in the rearview mirror as she continues to chatter away: Are you KIDDING me?!
10 years ago